LANE LEADS STRONG LINE-UP FOR SENIORS INTERNATIONALS

England is sending a strong seven-man line-up to compete in the inaugural Seniors Internationals at Portmarnock on 2-4 October.

Under the captaincy of David Lane, the team includes Roy Smethurst, Seniors Champion for the past two years, as well as the next three players from this year's English Championship at Sherwood Forest, Andrew Morrison, Robert Turner and Jon Marks.

The rest of the team is Anthony Smith and Paul Baxter, the EGU's Chief Executive and Secretary.

Lane, Smethurst and Marks have monopolised the English title for the past five years, Lane and Smethurst winning it twice, while Lane is a former holder of the British Seniors title and has just won the Scottish Seniors in Glasgow.

Marks, the English Seniors Champion in 1998 at Saunton, has been a regular in the Seniors British Open in Northern Ireland for many years and in 1998 he collected the silver medal as leading amateur, a feat repeated by Lane the following year.

Morrison, a retired schoolmaster from Brough in the Eden Valley, might have relieved Smethurst of his title as he led going into the final round. But a closing 79 at Sherwood Forest saw him finish runner-up, three strokes behind.

Smith has been President and Captain of Shropshire as well as Captain of the Midlands. On the course he has won 10 County titles including the Shropshire and Herefordshire Championship.

The other countries sending teams to Portmarnock are Ireland, Sweden and Wales. The sides will play each other on a round robins basis, each match consisting of two foursomes and five singles, all over 18 holes.

Team:
David Lane (Goring & Streatley)
Roy Smethurst (Crewe)
Jon Marks (Woodbridge)
Andrew Morrison (Appleby)
Robert Turner (Wearside)
Anthony Smith (Hill Valley)
Paul Baxter (Woodhall Spa)